Toni Morrison

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American novelist
Born: February 18, 1931

balls-out moment
First African-American writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. And a woman, to boot.

known for
Powerful, poetic prose that chronicle the black American experience, particularly black American women. Combining reality and the supernatural, as well as history and myth, Morrison's books are rich, textured, and stunning. Reading Beloved was one of the pinnacle reading experiences of my life.

books
The Bluest Eye (1970)
Sula (1973)
Song of Solomon (1977)
Tar Baby (1981)
Beloved (1987)
Jazz (1992)
Paradise (1998)
Love (2003)